There's a big mystery afoot in the media world thanks to the recent mugging -- or non-mugging -- of Air America radio talk show host Randi Rhodes. The story started when Rhodes's fellow host Jon Elliott reported on the air that Rhodes had been the victim of a beating while walking her dog. Elliott also went a step further, speculating that the beating might have been carried out by the "right-wing hate machine" as a means of silencing Rhodes (see last item). That seemed unlikely, at best.
But then the story got even stranger when it turned out that Rhodes was never beaten or mugged, not by the right-wing hate machine or anyone else. Evidently, she fell while walking her dog and was hurt. Elliott has apologized for his irresponsible speculation, saying that he was simply upset to hear about a friend's bad luck. No matter how this turns out -- maybe Rhodes got tangled in the leash and fell, maybe she was drinking, maybe she has the beginnings of a bad flu, maybe she slipped on a banana peel left in the street by Glenn Beck -- the way it has played out underscores one of the problems with political rhetoric in the country, and one of the many dangers of irresponsible polarization, whether it comes from the right or the left.
Reader Comments ( Page 2 of 3)
16. as if someone on the left , right or middle would recognize this wacky loser in a public arena
mriboy at 9:31PM on Oct 17th 2007
17. Irresponsible media person makes totally false statement concerning a colleague who had been injured and the divisive polarizing rhetoric starts flying back and forth due to his actions. Any media person doing this should be penalized -- left or right' Ann C, Bill O, ruSH l>>>>>>
At least this is nowhere near as criminal as the junta in our nations capitol who for wholly falsified reasons sent our true patriots into an ill conceived, lousily strategized debacle known as Iraq. And the neo-CON military industrial complex figurehead is now talking World War Three---let's talk about irresponsible cowboy!
Steven at 8:32PM on Oct 17th 2007
18. Who is Randi Rhodes? Plus, the real story here should be that Air America is still around.
Matt at 9:35AM on Oct 18th 2007
19. If this woman was mugged it was more likely a member of the liberal Democrat constituency who was responsible
IRONBLUEEYES at 9:59PM on Oct 17th 2007
20. Ben Greenman - not sure what point you're attempting to make with your blog...your "maybe" references are also simple political rhetoric.
I suspect that others commenting here are either unfamiliar with Ms. Rhodes or haven't taken the time to listen to her firsthand.
While I don't always agree with her delivery, her language is never politically rhetorical - she is honest, relevant, and accurate.
Randi is expected to return to her show tomorrow (Thu 10/18). While she owes us no explanation of her personal life - my expectations are she will address the incident then.
http://www.therandirhodesshow.com/live/listen
Teresa Zoellick at 1:04AM on Oct 18th 2007
21. So it was a phony mugging announced by one of your high school journalists?
Paul at 2:05AM on Oct 18th 2007
22. To jrae, #14:
I can answer for PurpleChef, but if he has an answer as well, he can post it too.
O'Lielly said twice on his Fox TV show regarding an incident that occurred during World War II in the town of Malmedy, which is in Belgium or France. He stated that American troops captured German soldiers and soon thereafter massacred the captives in an act of cold-blooded murder, also known as war atrocity. Twice he said this on different broadcasts.
This moron had the nerve to spin some revisionist history. He has yet to either apologize or correct his error. In point of fact, he got it exactly backwards. It was the Germans who massacred American captured soldiers, gunning them down in the snow, and it wasn't just a few either. This is a known fact and is substantiated by historians and news articles from the period. Just Google Malmedy and see what you find.
O'Lielly is a gutless coward. It's one thing to misstate a fact and then admit the error and correct the misstatement. That would be a mark of true journalistic integrity. He has none, so he won't.
Eric at 12:39AM on Nov 2nd 2007
23. WHO?
Tom at 3:05AM on Oct 18th 2007
24. Purple Chef, liberals don't apologize when they are wrong. They just tell another lie to cover it up.
Tom at 3:09AM on Oct 18th 2007
25. As I try to listen to both sides of talk radio to help understand what is "really" going on....I always find the Lib side to be very angry and just spout "they lied-lied-lied"....but then find the Dems have said the exact same thing before. Dems need to loose the anger and speak with facts or the downward spiral will keep gaining momentum....
Mark at 7:07AM on Oct 18th 2007
26. #19,
"While I don't always agree with her delivery, her language is never politically rhetorical - she is honest, relevant, and accurate."
Translation for the rest of us illiterate Troglodytes is:
She speaks too fast, she always says "progressive" things. As far as the last three(3) - She is from Air America.
Lastly Teresa is due for for her annual performance review at Air America, enough said.
JZeeee at 8:01AM on Oct 18th 2007
27. Why would the "right wing hate machine" need to "silence" Randi Rhodes (the one who thinks we should "dialogue" with terrorists)? Ratings which have fallen below the radar screen have forced the Air America program to a station which can hardly be heard 30 miles outside of Manhattan -- they have silenced themselves. It's a shame, too, because you can't effectively counteract a blowhard on the right like Rush Limbaugh with a blowhard on the left like Randi Rhodes. Makes you kind of wish they'd all just go away, doesn't it?
john52 at 2:43PM on Oct 18th 2007
28. Ben,
Probably closer to the truth is that Randi Rhodes was walking her dog; stopped and put a piece of gum in her mouth; took two steps; got tangled up in the dog leash and tripped.
willet at 9:31AM on Oct 18th 2007
29. #27
"Who is Randi Rhodes ?"
It is a new flavor at Baskin Robbins. It used to be called "Rocky Rhodes" but its name was changed due lack of customer interest and it was starting to sour.
JZeeee at 10:24AM on Oct 18th 2007
30. Do you want to know the difference between the broadcast left and the right, note that "Elliot has apologized for his irresponsible speculation."
Who on the right ever apologizes for thier inane and insulting comments? (unless threatened with loosing their job, like Don Imus)
mro at 11:08AM on Oct 18th 2007